History will note that Kahuku and Kaimuki won their respective contests in the state's first officially sanctioned high school surf meet yesterday at Ma'ili Point, but, as event director Dennis Kumagai pointed out, participants did much more than simply represent themselves and their schools.

To Kumagai, one of several who have spent years trying to get surfing recognized as an official high school sport, yesterday's young surfers were a part of milestone event in getting that most Hawaiian of Hawai'i sports recognized at the prep level.

While neither the O'ahu Interscholastic Association nor the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association has yet sanctioned surfing as an official high school sport, surfing has been recognized by the Department of Education as a club sport. Yesterday's event was the first of three scheduled for this year.

"I want to get (high school surfing) really involved with the state," Kumagai said. "I think surfing deserves it and I think Hawai'i deserves it. We need to put something that's part of our host Hawaiian culture back and have it respected as a school sport."

In head-to-head competitions yesterday, Kahuku defeated Castle, 65-42, and Kaimuki beat Kalaheo, 63-26.

Boys and girls teams from the four schools competed in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard divisions, with top finishers advancing to individual competition.

The meet was a low-key affair, barely noticeable from the nearby highway, and many surfers adopted a similar mellow attitude.

"It's all in good fun," said Kahuku senior Kyle Fisher, who placed first in the team and individual shortboard divisions. "It's not really competitive, just cruising."

Fisher's best ride of the day found him escaping a large barrel then executing a perfect cutback.

"It was windy out there but pretty barreling," he said. "The wind is good. It makes the barrels."

The Kahuku team was composed of just three boys and three girls. Complicating matters was that each of the surfers also had to compete outside of his or her specialty.

"All of our boys are shortboarders and all of our girls are longboarders," said Kahuku surf team adviser Iris Kahaulelio, who spent several years lobbying for surfing to be recognized as a sport, and several more working with organizers and fellow coaches to address safety, training and logistical concerns.

Kaimuki junior Candide Krieger captured the girls shortboard title, despite getting caught inside for the last several minutes of the team heat.

"I'm stoked," Krieger said. "I like being in the first-ever high school contest."

Still, Krieger, who regularly competes in amateur meets, said it was an adjustment learning to compete as a team.

"Surfing on a team with one other person (from) your club is a little bit different," she said. "It can get confusing."

Daniel Jones had perhaps the best overall day, finishing first in bodyboard, second in shortboard, and third in longboard.

The meet was originally scheduled for March 11, but was postponed due to a lack of surf.

Kahuku senior Busa Barbour, who had driven in from Ka'a'awa, took advantage of the cancellation to do some scouting.

"We surfed it anyway to get a feel for the waves," he said.

Barbour placed first in longboard during team competition. In individual competition, he placed third in shortboard and fifth in longboard.

"It was super fun to surf with all of my friends and to meet kids from other schools," he said.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.